Mercedes tyre controversy overshadows Monaco Grand Prix start

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Pastor Maldonado of Venezuela (bottom) is helped out of his car by a doctor after a crashStefano Rellandini/Reuters

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Pastor Maldonado of Venezuela car is removed by marshalsLuca Bruno/AP

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Nico Rosberg of Germany leads the race during the first lap of the MonacoRobert Pratta/Reuters

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Rosberg leads the way in MonacoStefano Rellandini/Reuters

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The drivers made their way around the tight street circuitSrdjan Suki/EPA

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Rosberg got away clean at the startTom Gandolfini/AFP/Getty Images

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The German's father, Keke, won the Monaco Grand Prix 30 years agoRobert Pratta/Reuters

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Rivals discovered before the race Mercedes had carried out a test on Pirelli tyresBryn Lennon/Getty Images

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Pirelli’s motorsport director said Mercedes gained no advantage from the testLuca Bruno

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Rosberg took pole position ahead of Hamilton yesterdayHoch Zwei/Action Images

Kevin EasonMotor Racing Correspondent, Monaco

Last updated at 11:52AM, May 26 2013

The hours leading to the Monaco Grand Prix, the most glamorous race of the
Formula One season, were overshadowed by an embarrassing row over the team
scheduled to lead the field away this afternoon.

Nico Rosberg took pole position with Lewis Hamilton second for Mercedes, yet
rival teams discovered that they had carried out a 600-mile test on Pirelli
tyres in what appears to be complete secrecy. Pressure was building for
teams to protest because testing during the season is banned, although
Pirelli has insisted the test was legal under the regulations.